Galvanic fluid applied to curing certain diseases



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' Pennsylvania,

UNITED STATES BEST AVAILABLE COPY PATENT OFFICE.

GALVANIC FLUID APPLIED T0 CURING CERTAIN DISEASES.

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Specification forming part oi Letters Patent Nerd-88. dated J nly22,1833.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DANIEL HARRINGTON, ot' the city of Philadelphia, inthe State of have invented a new and useful instrument or apparatus forthe purpose of applying the galvanic electricity or magnetic fluid orinfluence as produced by the contact of difierent metals to the cure ofcertain diseases in the human system; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full and exact description of the construction of and themode of operating with the said instrument or apparatus.

Any two difi'erent metals which excite the galvanic influence by contactmay be used in the formation of this instrument; but I prefer for thispurpose silver and zinc, and shall speak of them only, therefore, in mydescription.

The instrument is intended to be applied to the different externalorifices of the human body, as the anus, the vagina, the nares, and themeatus auditorius, or orifice of the ear, for the removal ofobstructions and the cure or relief of such diseases as may bebeneficially treated thereby.

The particular instrument which I am about to describe is of a size andform which adapt it to the rectum in the adult patient. Those used forthe nostrils or other purposes must, of course, be so varied in form andsize as shall be best adapted to the purpose, the general principle oftheir construction being in allcases similar. They must also be suitedin size to the age or other circumstances of the patient.

The accompanying drawing represents the instrument of two-thirds thefull size of one of which Ihave had in actual operation. It consists,principally, of two pieces of metal sepa rated by a bad conductor ofelectricity.

A and B are the two pieces of metal, each made in the same form. 0 is apiece of ivory, glass, resin, or any other bad conductors of theelectric fluid. D D are flanges, collars, or projecting plates of metal,which stand at the distance of about two inches from one and five fromthe other end of the instrument.

The non-conducting piece 0 may be about one-fourth of an inch thick andfrom two to three inches long. Its width must be equal to that of thepieces of metal between which it is interposed. The general width of thepieces of metal A and Bis about half an inch and their greatestthickness about one-eigh th of an inch. The silver-should be madeinuchthinner-- say one-thirtieth of an inch thick-for three or fourinches in length toward the end E, in order that by its elasticity thetwo metals may be readily broughtinto contact with each other. The endfrom D to F is to be nicely rounded and tapered, as it is to be insertedinto the rectum, and the faces of the collars or flanges toward that endshould be somewhat convex and perfectly smooth, that it press withoutproducing inconvenience upon the delicate membranes which surround theanus.

a aaare rivets or pins. of wood, which pass entirely through the twothicknesses of metal and the non-conductor to connect them together,cement also being interposed between the metals and the ivory to promotethe same end. Screws of metal may be used for the same purpose providedthey do not pass entirely through the non-eonductor.

When this instrument is used, it should be dipped into olive-oil, andthence inserted by a gentle twisting motion until the flanges bearagainst the membrane, in which position it is to be held while it is inuse. In order to produce the desired influence, the silver and zinc areto be alternately pressed together and suffered to recede. Asuccessionofslight though perceptible shockswill be thus produced,and it will rarelyhappen that the application of the instrument in this way will notproduce adejection, even in cases when the constipation has beenobstinate.

Experience has shown that, instead of the debilitating eflects ofordinary cathartics, this application tends to give tone to theintestinal canal, and in this way to produce very happy results in casesof dyspepsia, habitual costiveness, and other complaints. By keeping thetwo metals in contact a continual influence will be produced, and this,when desired, may be increased by the use of a small galvanic pile orbattery, the poles of which may be connected with the respective metalsfor ordinary purposes. This, however, is not necessary.

As an appendage to this instrument when used for operating through themedium of the rectum, I sometimes employ another, which, for an adult,may be in form such as is represented in Fig. 2, and about one-thirdlarger.

Zen x 2 i I M This appendage may be turned out of ivory the perforationa syringe or injecting-pipe adapted to the larger end of the perforationmay be used to inject oils or other fluids which, from a diseased stateof the rectum or from other causes, may be required.

I am aware that galvanic circles have been and are now employed indifi'erent ways,orb v inserting a small cylinder of zinc in the rectumand a piece of silver in the mouth, with aconnecting-wire of silverbetween the two; and also by binding plates of zinc and silver BESTAVAILABLE COPY on different and distant parts of the bodyafter removingthe cuticle and connecting such plates by a wire, as above, thus keepingup a continual action of the galvanic influence, or an action of manyhours duration. I do not therefore claim the application of suchinstruments; but

What 1 do claim as my invention is-- The employment of two metals with abad conductor of electricity interposed between them, in the manner orupon the principle herein described, for the purpose of producing for ashorter or longer period a succession of gentle shocks, for the purposeof removing obstructions or of producing other beneficial effects incases of diseased action, by inserting and using the same, as directed,in any of the external orifices of the human body.

DANIEL HARRINGTON.

Witnesses:

ELI K. PRICE, VALENTINE KENT.

